IT'S been a whole year since Andy Murray defeated Novak Djokovic, earning him the right to raise the elusive trophy he pursued for years.

ANDY MURRAY returns to the scene of his greatest triumph this afternoon – the place that will define him forever.

Among the blossoming purple and white hydrangeas and the perfectly manicured lawns the Scot feels totally at home.

Yesterday was the calm before the storm as he fine-tuned the preparations for the defence of the Wimbledon title he won on a gloriously sunny afternoon last July against Novak Djokovic.

In beating the world No.1 in straight sets Murray removed a millstone which had hung around the neck of British sport for 77 years. It also ensured he no longer has to deal with the constant references to Fred Perry, the previous British men’s winner way back in 1936.

Throughout the last 12 months Murray, as an All England Club member, has often found solace walking around SW19 and wandering into Centre Court.

And he couldn’t help but notice the scoreboard still showing last year’s final result: Andy Murray vs Novak Djokovic, 6-4 7-5 6-4.

But while he will always cherish the memories of that historic moment he admits the most satisfying aspect of his triumph is the fact it hasn’t changed him one little bit.

He said: “Nothing. Nothing has changed to be honest. Maybe abroad I get recognised more than I used to but in terms of what I do on a day-to-day basis nothing has changed.

“For me that has probably been the nicest part about it because that was something I was worried about. I had spoken to psychologists before and told them that was something I worried about. I spoke to Ivan (Lendl) about it.

“That for me has probably been the nicest part. It’s nice coming back and seeing your name on the list of champions on the wall because there is great history attached to the tournament.

“Most of the greatest players have won here, that is the nicest part about it – it’s something no one can take away from you. You’ve won one of the greatest tournaments in tennis.

“Centre Court is where I have played the most important tennis matches of my life. Out on that court. Obviously it is going to mean more to me as my career has gone on. Nowadays it is a place I like going to because it is quiet. I like to go to Wimbledon to practise but sometimes I just go for lunch or just to be there.

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Andy Murray writes his name on a camera lens

“It is quiet. It is a place where I can go and I don’t get bothered. I can think there. I like it.”

Yet after a year in which he could hardly bask in the glory the big question is whether he can now repeat the feat?

An operation to correct a long-standing back problem last September derailed his progress while the odds on winning again are stacked heavily against him.

Indeed, of the 20 first-time Wimbledon male winners in the Open er, only four have retained their crown 12 months later – Bjorn Borg in 1977, Boris Becker in 1986, Pete Sampras in 1994 and Roger Federer 10 in 2004.

Murray’s recent form is also a concern and is in stark contrast to last summer when he arrived at SW19 rested up after missing the French and on the back of an impressive win at Queen’s Club.

His performances have been patchy to say the least and since holding the famous trophy aloft he has not beaten a single player in the world’s top 10 and only one in the top 20. At the same stage in 2013 he had beaten nine players in top 20 bracket.

In the Grand Slams he was beaten in the US Open quarter-finals by Stanislas Wawrinka, by Federer in the quarter-finals of the Australian Open, demolished in the semis of the French by Rafael Nadal and then upset in the third round at Queen’s by Radek Stepanek.

However, Murray, who opens his account today against David Goffin, seems to come alive at Wimbledon and has reached at least the semi-final stage every year since 2008 while also winning an Olympic Gold in 2012. He said: “This has been my most consistent tournament throughout my career. I haven’t lost before the semis for a few years and I have always played good tennis here.

“There’s always been a lot of pressure but last year proved I could come through and handle it. If you win a tournament like Wimbledon you get the benefits because you know what it takes and you know how to cope with the latter stages.

“I feel if I play my best tennis I can put myself in a position to win the tournament.”

For the first time since he started coming to Wimbledon as a teenager Murray thoroughly enjoyed not being peppered with questions about how it would feel to be the first man since Perry, whose statue sits proudly only yards away from Centre Court, to triumph in his home Grand Slam.

He said: “Being asked about that in every press conference I think the subconscious builds up the pressure inside you. It builds to a point where last year was by far the most extreme pressure I’ve felt in my career.”

Yet Murray still feels he has a bit of work to do before he can command his own statue.

He added: “You’ll have to ask Wimbledon. I don’t even know if there will ever be one. Fred Perry won Wimbledon three times. I’ve still got a long way to go.”